Exports out of Iran, visible from trading partner imports, were up 23% for ethylene polymers in 2019, 28% for styrenic polymers, and 5% for vinyl polymers. Exports of propylene polymers fell.
Continue readingHuge Increases in Western Europe’s Imports of Ethylene and Propylene in 2019 from North America, Latin America and Middle East
Imports of ethylene into Western Europe increased by over 200% in 2019 versus 2018, and imports of propylene jumped 70%, based on latest statistics from reporting countries.
Continue readingChina’s Imports of Ethylene Polymers were up 19% in 2019; Imports of Propylene Polymers were up 9%.
Small Drop in China’s Tariffs on Polymer Imports from US
As of February 14, 2020, China will knock 2.5% off the punitive tariffs applied on imports of many polymers from the US. Most of the tariffs have been in effect since 2018.
Continue readingChina’s Ban on Plastic Bags Likely to Impact Imports of Polymers and Exports of PE Bags
By the end of 2020, China will ban plastic bags in major cities and, by 2022, country-wide. China is the world’s largest importer of the polyethylene used to manufacture bags, in addition to producing large volumes of polyethylene domestically. China exports large volumes of polyethylene bags.
Continue readingPhase I of the China – US Trade Agreement Includes Increased Imports into China of LNG, Liquefied Propane and Butane, Caustic Soda and Most Organic and Inorganic Chemicals
During the two-year period from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021, China has agreed to increase by $200 billion purchases from the United States of manufactured goods, agriculture, energy and services.
Continue readingChina Removes Tariffs on Four Specific Grades of Polyolefins from the US, Prior to the Phase I China – US Trade Agreement
China removed the 25% tariff on imports from the US of specific grades of HDPE, linear low density polyethylene, polypropylene and ethylene-propylene copolymers as of December 26, 2019.
Continue readingChina’s Imports of Ethylene Polymers Hit a New High in November, 2019. Fabricated Product Exports Remained Depressed.
China’s imports of ethylene polymers surged in November in advance of the Chinese New Year holiday that begins January 25, 2020. Exports of fabricated products trended higher in October and November, but remained below levels reached earlier in the year, and also in 2018, largely because of the trade war with the US.
Continue readingTrends in Western Europe’s Imports of Polyethylene in 2019
Imports of linear low density polyethylene into Western Europe from North America are projected to nearly equal the region’s imports from the Middle East by year end 2019, based on latest available statistics from 90 countries. Imports of HDPE from North America are trending sharply higher. Imports of both LLDPE and HDPE from the Middle East declined in 2018 and are projected down in 2019.
Continue readingGlobal Trade in P-Xylene Projected Down 2% in 2019
Trade volume by year end is projected at 22 million tons, down 2% from 2018 based on the latest statistics from 50 countries. This compared with an 11% gain in global trade volume in 2018 versus 2017. Prominent trends in 2019 include a drop in Asia-Pacific intra-regional trade, increased exports from the Middle East, and lower shipments from North America.
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